Rochester water plant operator wins pair of awards

By John Nolan

Thursday

Jan 31, 2008 at 3:15 AM

ROCHESTER — Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator MaryBeth Wiser has been presented with two performance-related awards — one regional and one national. She was the "very surprised recipient" of the pair of plaques earlier this month at a meeting of the New England Water Works Association in the Sheraton in Portsmouth.

One is from the NEWWA and is the Distinguished Drinking Water Public Involvement Award, which recognizes significant contributions to public education "that will conserve, nurture, protect or improve public drinking water supplies." The other plaque is from the New England section of the American Water Works Association and is called the Operator's Meritorious Service Award "for consistent and outstanding service in providing a quality water supply to the public."

Among the half dozen criteria that Wiser met to win the latter award were outstanding plant maintenance to prolong the useful life of equipment and special efforts in the training of treatment plant operators.

Wiser was nominated for the awards by lead operator Bob Gray, who said of his boss, "She keeps us shipshape."

How shipshape she keeps her treatment plant operators, ironically, has been a matter of minor controversy in the past several years, with the water treatment department experiencing a higher than normal staff turnover.

City Manager John Scruton, asked for his take on Wiser's awards, said, "They are a measure of her technical ability to operate a water facility. The City of Rochester should be pleased to know the safety of their water supply is in the hands of a professional who has been recognized with these honors."

Public Works Commissioner Melodie Esterberg and City Engineer Tom Wills (Wiser's immediate supervisor) declined to make themselves available for comment on the chief water plant operator's awards.

Wiser, who has worked in the water industry since 1994, received her bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Trinity College, Vt., and gained an associate's degree in water quality technology from NH Community Technical College. She is licensed in New Hampshire at Grade 4 treatment level and Grade 3 distribution, and is also licensed as a back flow device inspector. Before coming to Rochester about five years ago, she was the chief water treatment plant operator in Portsmouth.

In Rochester, in addition to the water treatment plant, Wiser is responsible for the water distribution system, which consists of 119 miles of piping, delivering, on average, 1.7 million gallons per day in the winter and 2.5 million gallons per day in the summer — the seasonal difference being due to lawn irrigation, car washing, swimming pool filling and the like.

Wiser said she was particularly pleased by her public involvement award.

"It is all about education. I try to promote my enthusiasm," said Wiser, asserting that water treatment plant operators are a dying breed.

To reverse this trend, Wiser has hosted six Spaulding High School students in a job shadow program, and will take part in the school's Career Day. She has also helped to educate grades K-2 about water treatment and water conservation.

Her education thrust has also taken the form of informational videos on storm water for the public TV channel, and tips on the city's website on how to avoid frozen pipes, on water conservation and on cross connections. Wiser has also placed displays on water associated topics in the library and the revenue office, in a continuing campaign to educate the public.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.